The Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) is against a German solo effort on the digital tax for large Internet companies such as Amazon, Google or Facebook. “That would be the wrong signal,” said Hans, referring to the digital tax applicable in France.

Such a tax could also be “in the digital sector Be a brake on growth “. With a view to the considerable profits that the online retailer Amazon, for example, was making because of the corona pandemic, Hans emphasized: “I am absolutely in favor of business that is done in Germany ultimately also being subject to German tax liability.”

“Not a very easy thing” A digital tax should primarily target large technology corporations that earn billions in the EU but, according to critics, pay too little taxes in individual markets. So far, profits have been taxed where the foreign company has its permanent establishment. However, the introduction of a digital tax is “not a very easy thing,” said Hans. This question must be tackled “at the OECD level and, if this is ultimately not achievable, at the European level”.

“Anything else would be unrealistic. Those are thick boards that you have to drill. ” Hans said large corporations with an international focus would have to be “more involved” in tax revenue. However, online trading does not have to take place on a single large foreign platform that may not pay taxes anywhere in the world. Even small and medium-sized companies that have previously been active in stationary retail in Germany could counter this crisis with an online, order, pick-up or delivery offer. He would like consumers to “think a little more about where they consume and where they shop.”

(dahe)